The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) has backed the Scottish Government's call for the EU Withdrawal Bill to be amended to protect Scotland’s interests.

The SFF, a vocal campaigner to leave the EU, notes is a written submission to Holyrood’s Finance and Constitution Committee ahead of a meeting on Wednesday, has voiced its opposition to Westminster taking back powers currently devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

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The EU Withdrawal Bill, formerly the Great Repeal Bill, will transfer European rules and regulations back to the British statute book.

The Bill was delayed earlier in the month after MPs pushed for more than 300 amendments.

In its submission to the Finance and Constitution Committee, the SFF said the Bill’s approach to repatriating powers from the EU “requires amendment if it is to respect the devolution settlement and deliver appropriate fisheries management”.

SFF's chief executive Simon Collins believes Brexit “presents a unique set of opportunities for Scotland to reinvigorate its coastal and island communities and deliver a thriving, profitable and sustainable seafood industry”.

Collins believes, given the short timetable of the Article 50 process, “it is hard to see how else the UK can avoid legal vacuum”.

He adds: “The wholesale transfer of EU law minus its legal ‘inoperabilities’ appears to be the only realistic option in that context.”

Collins has raised particular concerns around Clause 11 of the Bill, which provides “that where a rule or policy area is covered by EU law on the date of withdrawal, then it will, after withdrawal, become part of ‘retained EU law’ and will be put beyond the competence of the Scottish Parliament, regardless of whether the policy area is devolved”.

He said: “This is particularly significant in the case of fisheries, as retained EU law will include all but the legally inoperable parts of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

“Scottish Ministers would need to seek the agreement of the UK Parliament for amendments to this and other legislation regulating fisheries, dramatically limiting Scotland’s ability to carry out its devolved responsibilities and deliver effective, reactive fisheries management.

“The SFF is deeply concerned that the Scottish Government and Parliament would be unable to make changes to the discard ban, for example, which Scottish Ministers as well as the fishing industry recognise as unworkable in Scottish waters in its present form.

“In this and in many other areas of fisheries management, the devolution settlement and all that implies for reactive policymaking suited to regional conditions is a vital component of fleet and even environmental sustainability.”

Commenting on the SFF position, Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson said: “Even those who campaigned in favour of leaving the EU see the UK government’s withdrawal bill for what it currently is – a threat to our Scottish Parliament, and the founding principles of devolution which people voted for 20 years ago.